Driving bug causes problems for Woods as world No 1 struggles to keep up with Casey's lightning start in Turkey

Three million dollars is an awful lot of money to stump up for one man to play in your tournament. So the organisers of the inaugural Turkish Airlines Open must be cursing their luck that Tiger Woods has turned up sick for their big week.

Collect all the honey from the entire supply of baklava here in Antalya and you’d still struggle to find a sweetener to match Woods’ loot. The mere presence of the 14-time major champion automatically thrusts this event into the limelight, but the world No 1 gave questionable value for money on the course as he struggled to match the stunning low scoring of the leaders on the first day.

Woods insisted that his performance would not be affected by the bug - which he picked up from his six-year-old daughter, Sam – and he looked in good health during his first competitive round for a month on the Montgomerie Maxx Royal course on Thursday. It was just his driving that looked a little under the weather.

Under the weather: Tiger Woods' illness hampered the world No 1's performance in Antalya

Strike a pose: But Tiger Woods was suffering (below) with a bug he picked up from daughter Sam

Woods was one under par through 10 holes when play was suspended due to darkness, and languishing in 50th place in a field of just 78 players. Three of them reached seven under par, Paul Casey among them after the start of play was delayed by three hours due to a huge thunderstorm that left parts of some greens submerged. Just 15 players were able to completed their opening rounds, meaning an early restart beckons on Friday.

The overnight rain softened a course that always looked set for low scoring and many took full advantage. Casey enjoyed the most spectacular of starts when he eagled the 571-yard first hole, and racked up a further six birdies in 13 holes before the premature end to proceedings.

The top 10 were, incredibly, a combined 63 under par still with plenty of golf left in the opening round alone. Ricardo Gonzalez and Thorbjorn Olesen held the clubhouse lead at six under par after both shot rounds of 66.

But Woods was not among them. A birdie at the first proved something of a false dawn as familiar problems off the tee plagued his round yet again. Barely able to hit a fairway, he even missed the short grass from the third tee with an iron in his hands.

Tactics: Paul Casey enjoyed a spectacular start to the Turkish Airlines Open

England expects: Justin Rose plays a shot on the fourth hole during his first round

Woods might feel entitled to blame the sudden and very loud call to prayer that echoed across the course from a nearby minaret just as he teed up a ball. Marshalls call for quiet from the crowd before every shot, but their sphere of influence clearly has limits around these parts.

The presence of two burly guards shadowing his every move can’t help his concentration either, and at times some of the security surrounding him looked a little light for such a superstar. Still, for a notorious grouch he rarely grumbled and even enjoyed a joke or two with his playing partners, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson.

The good news for the tournament organisers is that, even if Woods continues to lag well behind the leaders, their prized asset is guaranteed to play for all four days here with there being no cut due to the limited field.

Playing partners: Woods (right) with Swedish player Henrik Stenson

There could, however, be a premature end to the Race to Dubai with leader Stenson taking a decisive step towards the title after banishing the memories of his recent indifferent form with four birdies in his opening 10 holes.

Things didn’t look too promising on the practice green ahead of his round when the Swede received a lengthy massage on the injured wrist that has been hampering him over the last few weeks.

But the man with the tree trunk arms crushed the ball off the tee with such power and ease that he regularly matched the driving distance of his playing partners despite using fairway woods while they took drivers.

Eyes on the prize: Henrik Stenson of Sweden plays his second shot on the par 3 second hole

The first prize here is £708,000 and Stenson could wrap up the title with victory in Turkey. At any rate, his nearest challengers in the race playing this week, Rose and Ian Poulter, can forget catching the Swede if he maintains this form.

Rose looked like he was ready to hunt down his playing partner after birdies in his opening two holes, but a hooked drive into a lake off the fourth tee caused the normally mild-mannered Englishman to drop his club in anger, with a gentle kick for afters.

The US Open champion was languishing alongside Woods at one under par by the close and needs to find some inspiration when he returns on Friday morning or face up to watching Stenson run away with European golf’s crown from a ringside seat.